After the dismal last couple of months of 14/15, culminating in the 6-1, and then the talk was that we'd sign Ings, Benteke and Milner to invigorate us for 15/16, I think it is reasonable to say not many of us were excited by the prospect. And Ings, Benteke and Milner is what we got, but somehow it doesn't seem quite so dire now, as memories fade and expectations rise. It's amazing what the start of a new season can bring. Who knows, if everything gels, we might be able to put a couple of runs together like last season's Dec-March run, of which we are undoubtably capable. Do that and we're in the mix.
In terms of the players, I anticipate Clyne replacing late period Johnson as being an improvement. I would also anticipate replacing late period Gerrard with Milner as probably helping things too, in terms of energy and perhaps liberating some of the players from having such a 'legend' in their midst. I'd also have to hope that Benteke and Ings surely (surely?) have to score more goals than Balotelli and Lambert managed last season. Like most of us, I have no real idea how Firmino will be, he looks great on the youtube and stats wise, but we'll be very lucky if he proves to be as good as Sterling was. Anyone dismissing how much of a threat Sterling was to the opposition is re writing history. So overall, I think we've improved a little player wise.
Something we're not really privy to is, what do the players think of the manager, is he held in high regard by them? My strong suspicion is that last season he probably wasn't, but some have left and some have arrived, so perhaps the atmosphere has changed now?
As the manager says, and we should all probably acknowledge, 5th is 'par' nowadays. I don't see that anyone who finished below us has improved dramatically over the summer, and I don't think we've improved dramatically enough to overhaul the 'big 4', so logic points to another year of battling Spurs for 5th.
I hope I'm wrong.
